VARIATIONS

We Play

Draw Games

These variations are blinds games with No limit variation normally including an ante. 

Game

Intial deal

Draws

Betting

Nut/best hand

Ace to five

5 cards face down

3

Fixed limit

A,2,3,4,5

Badugi

4 cards face down

3

Fixed limit

A,2,3,4 – one of each suit

2-7 Triple draw

5 cards face down

3

Fixed limit or Pot limit

2,3,4,5,7 – rainbow (at least one off-suit card)

2-7 Single draw

5 cards face down

1

No limit

2,3,4,5,7 – rainbow (at least one off-suit card)

Badacey

5 cards face down

3

Fixed limit

Split pot between best Ace-5 hand and best Badugi hand

Badeucey

5 cards face down

3

Fixed limit

Split pot between best Ace-5 hand and best Badugi hand. Note that nut badugi is 2,3,4,5 perfect offsuit.

5 card draw High

5 cards face down

1

No limit

Royal flush

 

Flop Games

These variations are blinds games, No limit & Pot limit variations may include an ante.

Game

Intial deal

Betting

Nut hand

Holdem

2 cards face down

Fixed, Pot & No limit

Royal flush

Omaha Hi/Lo – 8 or better

4 cards face down

Fixed & Pot limit

Split pot game between best ‘high’ hand and best ‘low’ hand

Big O

5 cards face down

Pot limit

Split pot game between best ‘high’ hand and best ‘low’ hand with the low requiring an 8 or better qualifier.

Omaha

4 cards face down

Fixed and Pot limit

Royal flush

 

Stud Games

Stud variations are played with an ante & bring in as opposed to blinds. The player responsible for the ‘bring in’ is determined by the game type being played and is either the ‘high’ or ‘low’ card on 3rd street by suit.

 

Game

Initial deal

Future streets

Betting

Nut hand

Stud

2 cards down, one card up

4th, 5th & 6thstreet face up, 7th street face down

Fixed limit

Royal flush (best 5 out of 7 cards used)

Razz

2 cards down, once card up

4th, 5th & 6thstreet face up, 7th street face down

Fixed limit

A,2,3,4,5 any suit(s)

Stud Hi/Lo – 8 or better

2 cards down, once card up

4th, 5th & 6thstreet face up, 7th street face down

Fixed limit

Split pot game between best ‘high’ hand and best ‘low’ hand with the low requiring an 8 or better qualifier.

Stud Hi/Lo – Regular

2 cards down, once card up

4th, 5th & 6thstreet face up, 7th street face down

Fixed limit

Split pot game between best ‘high’ hand and best ‘low’ hand with no qualifier.

Carnival Games

There comes a time in people’s lives where they take things from sublime to ridiculous and this is where the ‘carnival game’ variations fall into.

I have listed below many of the current games spread in different card rooms and private games throughout the world and more particularly the “after 10pm” list we currently add to our own cash games list, these include:

Archie

Ken-E-Dugi

Dramaha

Dramaha 2-7

Dramaha A-5

Dramaha 49

Dramaha Zero

Everest

Luna

Stairway to seven

Draw-way to seven

Deuce way to seven

Ace way to seven

Dramadugi

Duck flush

Action Razz

Stud Hi & 2-7 Low

Super Razz Dugi

Razz Deucey

Razz Dugi

Super Stud

Super Razz

Super Razz Deucey

Super Stud 8

Super Stud 8 & Badugi

The Cross

O8 double board ultimate

Oma-Jack

Homaha

Stud 30

Super Stud 30

777

The above games are combinations of draw/flop/stud and won’t be a part of MGA sanctioned events anytime soon!

If the games aren’t spread through WSOP ‘dealer’s choice’ then they won’t be included as a part of the academy training. The games listed don’t play well in tournaments (in my opinion) but certainly have a place in some cash games at lower limits.